Varanasi Travel Guide
Varanasi, otherwise known as Benaras, is a major attraction for those embarking on city tours of North India. Also known as the City of Light, it derives its name from the rivers Varuna and Ashi, which join the Ganges in this place. Another name for the place is Kashi. Interestingly, the city bore the name of Muhammadabad, for a brief period during the Mughal rule. The ancient Indian epics of Ramayana and Mahabharata speak of this city. Varanasi is a very old city filled with temples which date back to more than 2,500 years. In the venerable words of the great American novelist Mark Twain, “Benaras is older than history, older than tradition, older even than legend and looks twice as old as all of them put together”.The Hindu belief holds that Varanasi is the cosmic centre of the universe. The city is witness to the proliferation of Hinduism and is the seat of the rites and traditions of Hindu philosophy. The city is famous for festivals like Holika-Dahan and Dhrupad Mela.
Places to see:
The numerous ghats of Varanasi with small temples built around them are major attractions for tourists on pilgrimage tours in Uttar Pradesh. To experience the charm of visiting Varanasi, you must go to the following places:- Banaras Hindu University
- Bharat Kala Bhavan
- Jantar Mantar
- Ramnagar Fort
- Harishchandra Ghat
- Manikarnika Ghat
- Panchaganga Ghat
- Dashashvamedha Ghat
- Kashi Vishwanath Temple
- Durga Temple
- Kedareswara Temple
- Tulsi Manas Temple
- Sankat Mochan Temple
Shopping:
Shopping in Varanasi must begin with Banarasi Silk Sarees, which is the most common apparel of every Indian bride, with its gold and silver brocades and rich decorations. One can also buy brassware, copperware, wooden and clay articles as well as beautiful gold jewelry. Miscellaneous shopping items include the hand-knotted carpets of Mirzapur, musical instruments, shawls, wall hangings, glass bangles and mask of deities, amongst others. Coming to eatables, you can buy the tasty ‘Langda Aam’ (a kind of mango) and the famous betel leaf popularly called ‘Banarasi Paan’. The popular shopping areas in Varanasi are Vishwanath Gali, Lahurabir, Thatheri Bazar, Chowk, Gyan Vapi, Godoulia or Dashswamedh Gali and Golghar.Where to stay:
In Varanasi, you can stay in hotels, guesthouses and lodges, which provide facilities according to your requirement. There are different categories of hotels like luxurious Deluxe Hotels, Economy hotels and Budget Hotels. The hotels we recommend are:- Hotel Taj Ganges
- Clarks Varanasi
- Hotel Radisson
How to reach Varanasi:
Varanasi has a good network of transport facilities and is well-connected to most of the major Indian cities. You can go there by road, rail or air.By Road: Varanasi is easily accessible by road. Public and private buses from major cities go to Varanasi.
By Rail: There are trains connecting Varanasi to Delhi. Mumbai, Kolkata and other Indian cities. The place has two railway stations-- the Kashi Junction and the Varanasi Junction.
By Air: Daily domestic flights fly between Varanasi and many other cities of India. Flights on the Delhi-Agra-Khajuraho-Varanasi route are very frequent.
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